Collaborative Research: Blast Resistance of Polyurea-Steel Composite Structures for Infrastructure Protection

本研究的目的是了解聚脲涂层金属结构系统在爆炸载荷作用下的破坏机理。聚脲是一类聚合物材料，在减轻结构冲击和爆炸危险方面表现出突出的性能。这项研究将导致对聚脲-钢复合材料系统的抗爆性能背后的机制的基本理解。这种基本的理解是需要先进的结构保护系统的创新。该项目的成果包括预测聚脲-钢复合系统在爆炸载荷下的反应的最先进的计算模型、改进爆炸防护的新型结构设计、传播研究成果以及对研究生和本科生的教育，特别强调少数民族和在科学、工程和技术方面代表性不足的群体。这些调查将导致更好地保护全球和国家能源供应路线，如石油和天然气管道免受自然灾害和恐怖袭击;民用和军用车辆免受简易爆炸装置的影响，以及船体在水下或水上爆炸的情况下。聚脲-钢组合结构体系具有成本低、易于在新建和现有结构中实施等优点。研究生和本科生将通过参与研究活动和新课程从该项目中受益。研究生将通过接触合作大学的教师，课程和设施来扩大他们的教育。本科生，特别关注少数民族和代表性不足的群体，将通过参与大学已经建立的项目为该项目做出贡献并从中获益。

The objective of this research is to understand the failure mechanisms of polyurea-coated metallic structural systems when subjected to blast loads. Polyurea, a class of polymeric materials, was shown to exhibit outstanding properties in mitigating impact and blast hazard in structures. This research will result in the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms behind the blast resistance properties of polyurea-steel composite systems. This fundamental understanding is needed for innovation of advanced structural protection systems. Deliverables of the project include state-of-the-art computational models to predict the response of polyurea-steel composite system under blast loads, novel structural designs for improved blast protection, dissemination of research results as well as education of graduates and undergraduate students with particular emphasis on minorities and underrepresented groups in science, engineering and technology. The investigations will lead to better protection systems for global and national energy supply routes, such as oil and gas pipelines against natural disasters and terrorist attacks; civilian and military vehicles against improvised explosive devices, and ship hulls in the event of an under or above water explosion. Polyurea-steel composite structural systems will offer the advantages of low cost, and easy implementation to new and existing structures. Graduate and undergraduate students will benefit from this project through participation in research activities and new courses. Graduate students will broaden their education by exposure to faculty, classes and facilities at the collaborating universities. Undergraduate students, with particular focus on minorities and underrepresented groups, will contribute to and gain from this project through programs already established at the participating universities.